Jakobskirchhof - Review

The remains of many a great people of Weimar rest at Jakobskirchhof. Also known as the Jacobsfriedhof, it is the oldest burial ground located around St. Jacob’s Church. Burials here have been traced back to the 12th century and until 1818 it was the only burial ground in Weimar.

Probably the major attraction of the place is the Kassengewolbe. The architecture of the place is heavily Baroque. This is a mausoleum which was built by Chamberlain Christoph Jenichsen in 1715, originally as a family grave. Later this was converted into a place of burial for the famous and ones with high ranks in the court. Another thing of interest at the Jakobskirchhof is the Schiller’s Vault. The Schiller’s Vault is a mausoleum honouring the memory of the great poet. Although he was buried here, his remains are now lost.

Various monuments and memorials are spread across the Jakobskirchhof. The list of notable graves at the burial ground include –

Luise von Gochhausen, a lady-in-waiting of Anna Amalia.

Lucas Cranach the Elder, the court painter.

Georg Neumark, famous poet.

Georg Melchior Kraus, famous painter and also a friend of Goethe.

Christian von Goethe, nee Vulpius, Goethe’s wife.

The Jakobskirchhof is beautiful with its various sculptures and beautiful gardens. It is a part of the Klassik Stiftung and is a part of Weimar’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.